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The Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health
Ad for Kotex
Soft-Impressions deodorant menstrual pads
Unknown magazine, 1972, U.S.A.
"Be a giggle. Be a gag. Be a great day. But
be sure."
Oh, that Kotex, always looking for a good time! (So
was cartwheeling
Stayfree.)
Freedom of
movement was important for women; tampons,
menstrual cups
and sponges
helped assure
that but required - and require - boldness to use.
The Stayfree brand incorporated freedom
in its name and action
photos and even showed Olympic gymnast and current
"Peter Pan" Cathy Rigby
in a dangerous
position.
And who wanted anyone to know she was wearing a pad?
Ads again and again showed women that they could
wear the company's napkins and never reveal
their "secret." Even when they dare you!
Of course at this time the belts that
held these pads saw the challenge from sticky pads,
pads that
adhered to the crotch of panties. (See a comparison
of belts and beltless pads in a Swedish ad.)
No belts and
no special
underpants were necessary. Kotex itself had
been selling a beltless
pad since at least the early 1970s.
This was a revolution.
I thank the
anonymous donor!
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MUCH MORE Kotex
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